Clothesline tightener



Feb. 1, 1949. JENSEN ET AL I 2,460,649

CLOTHES LINE TIGHTENER Filed Aug. 20, 1945 INVENTOP, -M4 W W BY Howe-at M 6 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES CLOTHESLINE TIGHTENER Howard M. Jensen, Halesite, and Richard W. Bridges, Farmingdale, N. Y.

Application August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,468

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a rope tightener and clamp which is particularly adapted as a clothes line tightener and clamp,

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the above nature that will permit a rope to be tightened to the desired extent and which will maintain the rope in its tightened condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which will be cheap to manufacture, easy in operation and positive in its action.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings and recited in the claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing its application to a clothes line;

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modification of the device; and

Figure 5 is an edge view of said modification.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 of the drawings, the device includes a body portion I that is preferably, although not necessarily, circular in form. This body portion I is provided with a channel 2 providing, in efiect, two ears 3 and 4, between which a clamping pawl 5 is pivoted on a pin 6, which pawl has a loose fit on the pin. The pawl 5 is pivoted eccentrically n the pin and is provided with serrations 1, which are adapted to approach and recede from the bottom 8 of the channel 2. The pawl is also provided with a finger piece 9 that projects from the channel 2 and beyond the body portion I.

Extending from the peripheral edge of the body portion I, and communicating with the channel 2. is a hole 10, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Thus, when the device is used as a tightener and clamp for a clothes line, for illustration, the line is passed around a pair of pulleys in the usual manner (one of which pulleys is shown at H), and the device of this invention is interpolated in one reach of the line. One end of this reach is passed into the channel 2 and through the hole H] where it is secured, as for instance by knotting as illustrated. The other end of this reach is passed through the channel 2 in the opposite direction and between the bottom 8 of the channel and the pivoted pawl 5. When the line is drawn to the desired tightness the finger piece 9 may be pushed upwardly and the serrations 1 moved into engagement with the rope. The reactive force exerted by the rope or line will draw the pawl tighter into engagement as the reactive force is increased.

The line or rope may thus be adjusted and will be clamped in its adjusted position.

7 move it about its pivot.

When it is desired to release the rope or line it is only necessary to grasp the device in one hand and exert pressure on the finger piece to Thus the other hand of the user is left free to manipulate the line.

The eccentricity of the pawl on its pivot gives the device a range for the accommodation of ropes of various sizes, as the distance between the pawl and the bottom of the channel will thus automatically vary to permit the insertion of the line,

The body portion l of the device is also provided with a slot I2 that has on its lower edge a plurality of pockets [3 into which the excess line may be looped and thus retained.

' In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings this slot, which is designated by the reference numeral I2, is in the form of a transverse reentrant angle 13' which will cause the excess rope to be bent into bight portions which will assist in maintaining the excess rope in position.

7 It will be realized that this device may be constructed of wood, plastic, metal or any other desirable materal, and may be cheaply formed by casting.

While particular forms of the invention have been described, it must be realized that details of construction may be varied within the scope of the claim appended.

What is claimed is:

A line tightener comprising a, substantially cylindrical member having a body portion and a pair of spaced extensions forming a channel therebetween and opening through substantially half of the peripheral face of said cylindrical member, said body portion having a line receiving opening establishing communication between said channel and the peripheral face of said cylindrical member remote from said channel and having also an inclined line receiving slot closed at one end and opening through the peripheral face of said cylindrical member at its other end remote from the aforesaid channel and the aforesaid hole, and means within said channel for clamping a, line against said body portion.

HOWARD M. JENSEN.

RICHARD W. BRIDGES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,061,173 Huston May 6, 1913 1,385,837 Kistner July 26, 1921 1,522,400 Wagenbrenner Jan. 6, 1925 1,726,306 Malmborg Aug. 2'7, 1929 1,961,081 Schrader May 29, 1934 2,164,949 Schreiber July 4, 1939 

